I think we may well see a Glasgow pack of :1)Shrek2) An(other) ex-All Black3) Zander Ragnar4) The Cap'n5) Oscar6) Big Bad Bob7) Wynn8) Shooie Uknow-eh?

No matter how you shuffle it we still don't have: Fozzie, Simone, Batman, Bluto or young Arthur Ashe. So, the obvious thing would be to accept that Harley is an excellent 6 and is probably just, but only just, ahead of young Bru as a 7 so should stay at 6. Young Wynn looks like a Hamish Watson type 7, so leave him there. Which is where the Tombola may surprise us. We do lack a ball carrying presence in the back row; Shooie may be dynamic but we don't know yet. However with him and the two second rows I've gone for we won't be getting pushed around if we decide to keep it tight. Just in case Shooie doesn't blast holes in the Ulstermen's defence every time he gets the ball let's have Fagerson The Younger on the bench. He was 24th man at Caahdiff and the whisper from Scotstoun is that he could be another .I also have a sneaky suspicion we may see D'Justice on the bench for his carrying.

I realise that even the Tombola may not be as foolish as I seem to be so here's a sensible prediction; we won't be seeing the Pukekohe Kid on Friday night.

we should be getting another small injection of internationals this week so hopefully Trimbs will make a return. Losing McCloskey and Marshall for this is a kick in the teeth but we do have a glut of centres including our very brilliant Charlie Piutau who played well there for Wasps last season. If we could get Payne back I'd say we're more than covered in the backline but I've heard no word on possible returns. We will need something, playing away to Glasgow is a step up and a half to anything we've done in the first 3 games.

Hazel Sapling wrote:Judging by that would Ulster have something like below? If so, I have little sympathy9) Pienaar10) Jackson11) Lyttle12) McCloskey13) Payne14) Piutau15) Olding

It's close:

15) Piutau

14) Lyttle

13) Olding

12) McCloskey

11) Ludik

10) Jackson

9 ) Pienaar

Stockdale might fit in there, and if McCloskey hasn't recovered (Ulster Rugby didn't mention injury so a possible) we can bring Cave in. We could also play Piutau in the centre with Ludik at FB. Don't think we will see Payne.

Hazel Sapling wrote:Judging by that would Ulster have something like below? If so, I have little sympathy9) Pienaar10) Jackson11) Lyttle12) McCloskey13) Payne14) Piutau15) Olding

It's close:

15) Piutau

14) Lyttle

13) Olding

12) McCloskey

11) Ludik

10) Jackson

9 ) Pienaar

Stockdale might fit in there, and if McCloskey hasn't recovered (Ulster Rugby didn't mention injury so a possible) we can bring Cave in. We could also play Piutau in the centre with Ludik at FB. Don't think we will see Payne.

You're still only getting a microscopic violin playing for that 'weakened' backline.

Hazel Sapling wrote:Judging by that would Ulster have something like below? If so, I have little sympathy9) Pienaar10) Jackson11) Lyttle12) McCloskey13) Payne14) Piutau15) Olding

It's close:

15) Piutau

14) Lyttle

13) Olding

12) McCloskey

11) Ludik

10) Jackson

9 ) Pienaar

Stockdale might fit in there, and if McCloskey hasn't recovered (Ulster Rugby didn't mention injury so a possible) we can bring Cave in. We could also play Piutau in the centre with Ludik at FB. Don't think we will see Payne.

That's what I'd go with. Stockdale injured, so Cave on the bench. For all our monopolising of Irish backs talent, we don't have a lot of wriggle room.

Is Ludik available? I did not see which side Lyttle preferred so guessed.

McCloskey is the lynchpin if he is healthy. Cave at 13 with Olding at 12 is not bad though; it will be interesting to see who the subs are.

Think Glasgow should be near full strength in the backs. We have a bit of a problem in the back row in that there is only 1 senior player healthy and he has played 3 full games on the trot. Hopefully means a good game of expansive rugby as neither teams wants to keep it in the backs

It's very concerning that Gilroy is out- he was excellent the last day, and Lyttle might be exposed as Glasgow will make us make a lot of hard decisions in the wide channels. As much as you might look at the rest of the back line and say what are you moaning about, if this game is as tight as many of the games we've had lately have been it could make the difference. Then I wonder who will cover the back three from the bench. Maybe they'll just have Herron and Cave.

Hazel Sapling wrote:Judging by that would Ulster have something like below? If so, I have little sympathy9) Pienaar10) Jackson11) Lyttle12) McCloskey13) Payne14) Piutau15) Olding

It's close:

15) Piutau

14) Lyttle

13) Olding

12) McCloskey

11) Ludik

10) Jackson

9 ) Pienaar

Stockdale might fit in there, and if McCloskey hasn't recovered (Ulster Rugby didn't mention injury so a possible) we can bring Cave in. We could also play Piutau in the centre with Ludik at FB. Don't think we will see Payne.

You're still only getting a microscopic violin playing for that 'weakened' backline.

Hazel Sapling wrote:Judging by that would Ulster have something like below? If so, I have little sympathy9) Pienaar10) Jackson11) Lyttle12) McCloskey13) Payne14) Piutau15) Olding

It's close:

15) Piutau

14) Lyttle

13) Olding

12) McCloskey

11) Ludik

10) Jackson

9 ) Pienaar

Stockdale might fit in there, and if McCloskey hasn't recovered (Ulster Rugby didn't mention injury so a possible) we can bring Cave in. We could also play Piutau in the centre with Ludik at FB. Don't think we will see Payne.

You're still only getting a microscopic violin playing for that 'weakened' backline.

Hazel Sapling wrote:Judging by that would Ulster have something like below? If so, I have little sympathy9) Pienaar10) Jackson11) Lyttle12) McCloskey13) Payne14) Piutau15) Olding

It's close:

15) Piutau

14) Lyttle

13) Olding

12) McCloskey

11) Ludik

10) Jackson

9 ) Pienaar

Stockdale might fit in there, and if McCloskey hasn't recovered (Ulster Rugby didn't mention injury so a possible) we can bring Cave in. We could also play Piutau in the centre with Ludik at FB. Don't think we will see Payne.

That's what I'd go with. Stockdale injured, so Cave on the bench. For all our monopolising of Irish backs talent, we don't have a lot of wriggle room.

Hazel Sapling wrote:Is Ludik available? I did not see which side Lyttle preferred so guessed.

McCloskey is the lynchpin if he is healthy. Cave at 13 with Olding at 12 is not bad though; it will be interesting to see who the subs are.

Think Glasgow should be near full strength in the backs. We have a bit of a problem in the back row in that there is only 1 senior player healthy and he has played 3 full games on the trot. Hopefully means a good game of expansive rugby as neither teams wants to keep it in the backs

Ludik played last week, and don't think he has any injury concerns. If he does I will cry.

Yes, I've been reading that Glasgow are short in the backrow. Really disappointing.

Unless he's a great player who will add a lot, I'd rather give Kane more gametime.

I see Anton did an interview for Ulster Rugby. Seems a decent sort.

Anton is only going to be with us three months, so think he should only be a break-glass option. I think Ah You and Kane have made a good start to the season. Ah You has surprised me a bit, and Kane is a really good prospect at the age of 21. Would like to see Ah You start, with Kane on the bench.

carpet baboon wrote:Is it just me or does Ah You look like he's a little slimmer this season?

I thought so too. I wonder how his first Ulster pre-season compared to what he'd experienced at Connacht. I know the Ulster fitness regime is notoriously grueling and our squad's fitness is one of the best but I'd love to hear a personal comparison from him. He seems to be quite a character too from any of the interviews I've seen.

Did not realise Rob Harley is out as well! 5 back rowers injured as well as a guy who kind of plays 6 in Swinson and a guy who used to play 8 in Vernon. Never heard of Thomson and will be interesting to see if he is ready for this level.

The backs are all first choice as are the front 5. Uanivi looks a powerful athlete and will be interesting to see how he gets on vs Henderson

That's a strong team, and really looking forward to seeing how Piutau does on the wing! Either side can win this although home advantage might see Glasgow win. They're a very good side, and we always struggle with them away. Can't help but feel a little confident though, even if it's just microscopic confident

asoreleftshoulder wrote:So is this a sign that Payne is now staying at fullback?Great news for Ireland and frees up the centre spots for Ulster but Bowe,Timble and Gilroy will be discommoded.

I'm happy that Ulster are playing him at fullback. Not sure if it means he will be moved to fullback for Ireland, but with Kearney on the wane, it's certainly possible. Hope so. Payne's still the best we have there for Ulster. If it wasn't one of the wings losing out, it would be one of the centres.

Given that we are missing Bowe, Trimble and Gilroy from our wing roster, its actually quite scary that we can still put out a back three like that. Glasgow won't be kicking at them much given all three of them are fullbacks.

It shows how important a player Piutau is going to be for us. Bare in mind that we are liable to lose Payne, 2 or 3 wingers (Bowe, Trimble, Gilroy and 2 or 3 centres (Olding, Marshall, McCloskey) to Ireland call ups. Piutau covers across the back three and a centre at a push as he played 13 for Wasps last season. He is going to be invaluable come the international windows.

Afraid not, son. We lost to Ulster in the Heino at Scotstoun in 2012-13. I remember watching a young man called Nikola Matawalu, just off the plane from Suva, pluck the ball from the air in injury time and dot down in the corner to get us a losing bonus point.

I'm worried about this one, not least because I've promised Hagia Sophia a romantic anniversary weekend in Glasgow, and it all starts at sunny Scotstoun. What others say with flowers and chocolates, I say with a trip to the Main Stand and a suspiciously damp seat on the 17:35 to Helensburgh Central.